Improved truss-sttfforter



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DAVID S. LEAVITT, OF GRAND RAPIDS,` MICHIGAN.

Letters Patent No. 89,668, dated M11/y 4, 1869.

IMPRVD TRUSS-SUPPORTER.

To all lwhom it 'ma/y concern Be it known that I, DAVID S. LEAVITT, of Grand Rapids, in the countyof Kent, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and improved Truss and Supporter; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a front view.

Figure 2 is a rear view. I

Figure 3 is a section ofthe back-pad plates, rubber, or elastic fastener, and the ends of the side-springs, as indicated by the line :1J-y of iig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section of the supporter, with sheath, pad-plate, arm, and set-screw, as indicated by the line 'l1- p of g. 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of side-spring.

Figure 6 is a back view of hinged joint in the spring.

'Like letters inthe figures of the drawings indicate like parts.

The nature of my invention consists- A First, in increasing or lessening the size of the truss and supporter'without displacing the pad by means of adjustable side-springs.

Second, a combined truss 'and supporter, so constructed that the same may be used either with or with-l out a pad.

Third, the construction of the side-springs with hingejoints, so that the same may be folded and packed in a small compass, for convenience in transportation; and, also, in providing the joints in such a manner with rubber or elastic as to give an increased tension of the side-springs upon the supporter and back-pad plates.

Fourth, the lateral movement of the pad-plate without displacing the pad, so that the supporter'may be shifted from one position to another, as the ease or comfort of the person requires; and, also, in applying and regulating pressure to the pad, by means of a setscrew, and an arm in combination withthe pad, so as.

-to avoid any uncomfortable feelings, caused at times by the fixed pressure of the ordinary spring upon the pad.

Fifth, the construction of the supporter in such a manner as that an additional pad may be used, if required.

Sixth, providing the truss and supporter with a rubber or elastic fastener, so as to obtain an easy self-ad- `ustment of the truss around the body.

To enable any one skilled in the art to make and usemy invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

. A- is the supporter.

B B are the back-pad plates.

The supporter and back-pad plates are each provided with sheaths a, on their outer sides.

O C are the adjustable side-springs, suitably constructed to fit around the body, and having straight ends b, designed to t in the sheaths, which ends have one or more holes, c, connecting with each other by slots.

. On the innersides of the supporter and plates are fiat springs D, which are attached thereto by screws, or rivets d.

The end of each spring has a button, or an inclineheaded pin, e, which button' or pin projects into the sheaths through slots f, made in the supporter and plates, and are intended to t the hole c of the sidesprings, sothat by pressing the button or vpin down with the thumb, through a hole, g, made large enough in the sheath to admit the same, and inserting the end .of the side-spring in the sheath, until a hole thereof comes over the button, and then withdrawing the thumb from the same, the button will be immediately forced through the hole by the spring, and thus will connect andv hold the side-spring iu the sheath. Each end of the side-springs is fastened in the sheaths in the above manner. v

From this it Will be obvious, when it is desired to increase or lessen the size of the truss and supporter,

without displacing the p ad,7 all that is necessary to.

shank will come in the slot between theholes, and then slipping the end of the side-spring along to the hole that will give the required size; and of course, at any time, should the pad or supporter become uncomfort'f able to the wearer, while in a lying, or other position, relief can be easilyhad, by detaching `an end of the side-springs from the sheath without removing the apparatus entirely 'from the body.

The side-springs consist of two pieces, and are united by a hinge-joint at E.

The object of the hinge-joint is to allow the sidesprings to be folded, so that, in connection with the means by which they are made detachable from the supporter and back-plates, the whole apparatus can be packed in a small compass, which is quite a desideratum in the manufacture and transportation of them.

F F are rubber or elastic springs, which are stretched across over the hinge-joints, and suitably secured to flat plates G G, riveted on each side of the joints to the inner sides of the side-springs, and are designed to j give an increased tension of the side-springs upon the supporter and back-pad plates; but if it should be found the tension is too great for the comfort of the wearer, the rubber can be easily removed and dispensed with.

H is the pad-plate, to which will be attached a pad of such a kind as the'wearer may desire, las any ofthe ordinary pads may be used.

The lower edge of the supporter, next to the end thereof, is cut inwardly to about a quarter of a circle, to receive the end of the pad-plate, which is cut similarly, but outwardly, to fit withinthe same, and is attached to the supporter by a hinge being placed over the joints thus made between the plate and supporter on their inner sides, the iiap h of the hinge being screwed or riveted fast to the supporter, and the ilapz secured by a pivot-screw, j, only, thus allowing the padplate or the pad to be given either a lateral or a forward-and-backward movement.

I is the arm, or screw-lever, which is provided with ahinge-joint, le, and arranged on the outerside of the plate, and having its end attached by a pivot-screw, l, to the supporter, so that by means of the pivot-screw and hinge-joint, the arm may be moved the same as the pad-plate. l

'Ihe pad-plate has an elongated slot, m, in the same, extending up from near the end thereof, which slot has a nut, n, whose sides are made to fit within and with the side edges of the slot, in such a manner as that the nut may be held, and yet moved freely up and down therein. Y l Y A The nut has a screw-shank, which extends throng a hole in the arm fitting it, and to which shank is properly tted and secured the set-screw J.

From this it will be seen, pressure may be given the pad by pressing upon the pad-plate with the hand until sufficient pressure is obtained, the arm being drawn in and` the nut and set-screw carried up to the degree the arm is drawn in, when the set-screw is then made tight, which causes the arm to bind upon the platev suiciently so that it cannot be moved.

Thus it is optional with the wearer, at any time, to increase or diminish the pressure, according as the ease 0r comfort-of the pad upon the hernia may require, without inconvenience, as if it should be-necessary, during its use through the day, the pressure may be regulated by reaching the set-screw with the hand in the pocket. v

The lower edge of the supporter, next to the end thereof, is constructed the same as that next tothe opposite end, (see the letter K, g. 1,) so that an additional pad may be used, if necessary, the end of the pad-plate being constructed the same as the other, and attached in like manner.

L is the rubber or elastic fastener, provided with button-holes or loops, and suitably secured to the edge of one of the back-plates, the other back-plate having buttons o o, bymeans of which the apparatus is fastened around the body by looping or buttoning the elastic to the buttons. v

As the rubber or elastic will come across the tender part of the back, it will be obviou's that it will not be liable to cause any uneasiness thereto, and besides, by reason of its elasticity, will give an easy, comfortable feeling of the apparatus around the body generally.

Different sizes of rubber may be used, so that the diameter of the apparatus can be increased or diminished, as the size of the person may require, or the diameter of the same may be increased to give the required size, by having the ends of the side-springs lengthened, and provided with a suitable number of holes.

sacs@ 2 From the description of the apparatus herein given, it will be seen that it is within the powerof the person at any time to adjust the same as the ease or comfort of the apparatus around the body may require. Thus, if the supporter should cause any uncomfortable feeling, which it is likelyto do after being worn awhile in one position, the supporter can be shifted to another position without displacing the pad, but should the lateral movement of the pad-plate be insueient to allow the supporter to be shifted to the point, or position desired, the side-springs may be so adjusted, in connection with' the same, as will admit of its being done; and should either of the back-pads cause any uneasiness, they can be shifted to avoid the same by suitably adjusting the side-springs therewith.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters' Patent, is-

1. 'Ibe combination of adjustable side-springs C O with supporter A and back-pads B B, substantially as and for the -purpose specified.

2. The construction ofthe side-sprin gs O C, with -one or more holes, c, in combination with flat springs vD, having buttons e, and sheaths a, of the supporter A, and back-pads B B, substantially as set forth.

3. The pad-plate H, or pad having a lateral movement, in combination with the supporter A, substantially as and for the purpose spccied.

screw J, with the pad-'plate H, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The construction of the pad-plate H, with elongated slot n and nut o, in combination with arm I and set-screw J, substantially as set forth.

6. `The construction of the arm I with hinge-joint l, and its attachment to the supporter by pivot-screw m, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a hinge with the pad-plate and supporter, attached substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

8. Thel construction of the side-springs C C with 'hinge-joints E, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination of elastic or rubber springs F F with the joints of the side-springs,,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. Thecombination of an elastic or rubber fastener, L, and buttons p p, with the back-pads, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Witnesses W. BURRIs, D. A.'BURB.

, 4. llhe combination of an arm, or lever, I, and setl 11. rIhe supporter and back-pads, provided with` 

